Helleborus plant named &#39;et epb 1717&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Helleborus  plant named ‘ET EPB 1717’, characterized by its upright plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; continuous and freely flowering habit; relatively large purplish red-colored flowers that are held above the foliar plane on relatively long peduncles; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Helleborus orientalis X Helleborus ericsmithii.

Cultivar denomination: ‘ET EPB 1717’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR & APPLICANT/ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Assignee, Eternal Plant Boijl B.V. of Boijl, The Netherlands on Nov. 20, 2020, application number 2020/2951. Foreign priority is claimed to this application.

The Inventors/Applicants and Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventors/Applicants and/or Assignee. Inventors/Applicants and Assignee claim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Helleborus plant, botanically known as Helleborus orientalis X Helleborus ericsmithii and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘ET EPB 1717’.

The new Helleborus plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventors in Boijl, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to create new freely-flowering Helleborus plants with strong peduncles that hold numerous attractive flowers above the foliar plane.

The new Helleborus plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventors in Boijl, The Netherlands in February, 2015 of a proprietary selection of Helleborus orientalis identified as code number 718, as the female, or seed, parent, not patented, with a proprietary selection of Helleborus ericsmithii identified as code number 1204, as the male, or pollen, parent, not patented. The new Helleborus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventors as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Boijl, The Netherlands in February, 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the new Helleborus plant by meristem culture in a controlled greenhouse environment in Boijl, The Netherlands since May, 2018, has shown that the unique features of this new Helleborus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Helleborus have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype of the new Helleborus plant may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype of the new Helleborus plant.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘ET EPB 1717’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘ET EPB 1717’ as a new and distinct Helleborus plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Continuous and freely flowering habit.     -   4. Relatively large purplish red-colored flowers that are held         above the foliar plane on relatively long peduncles.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Helleborus differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Helleborus are more compact than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Helleborus are lighter in color         than flowers of plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Helleborus differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Helleborus are taller than plants of the         male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Helleborus have slightly larger flowers         than plants of the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Helleborus and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the new Helleborus have         purplish red-colored flowers whereas plants of the male parent         selection have more purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Helleborus can be compared to plants of Helleborus x hybridus ‘ABCRD02’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,720. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Helleborus differ from plants of ‘ABCRD02’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Helleborus are taller than plants of         ‘ABCRD02’.     -   2. Stems of plants of the new Helleborus are reddish green in         color than stems of plants of ‘ABCRD02’ which are green in         color.     -   3. Plants of the new Helleborus have smaller leaves than plants         of ‘ABCRD02’.     -   4. Plants of the new Helleborus are more freely flowering than         plants of ‘ABCRD02’.     -   5. Flowers of plants of the new Helleborus are darker purplish         red in color than flowers of plants of ‘ABCRD02’.

Plants of the new Helleborus can also be compared to plants of Helleborus x hybridus ‘EPB 210’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,873. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Helleborus differ from plants of ‘EPB 210’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Helleborus are taller than plants of ‘EPB         210’.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Helleborus are darker in color         than flowers of plants of ‘EPB 210’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Helleborus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Helleborus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘ET EPB 1717’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘ET EPB 1717’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the winter in three-liter containers in an outdoor nursery in Boijl, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Helleborus production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 0° C. to 10° C. and night temperatures ranged from −15° C. to 0° C. Plants were one year old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Helleborus hybridus ‘ET EPB 1717’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Helleborus             orientalis identified as code number 718, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Helleborus             ericsmithii identified as code number 1204, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By meristem culture.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 15 days at             temperatures about 22° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 15 to 22 days at             temperatures about 5° C. to 10° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About two             months at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 55 to 60             days at temperatures about 12° C. to 15° C.         -   Root description.—Fleshy, vigorous; typically white to brown             in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; upright plant             habit with flowers held above the foliar plane; moderately             vigorous to vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 50 cm to 55 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 20 cm to 25 cm.         -   Stems.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture and             luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: Close to 146B             densely covered with spots, close to 187B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Leaves arranged alternately in a basal rosette;             leaves palmately compound with three to five leaflets per             leaf.         -   Leaflet length.—About 10 cm to 15 cm.         -   Leaflet width.—About 8 cm to 10 cm.         -   Leaflet shape.—Ovate to obovate.         -   Leaflet apex.—Acute.         -   Leaflet base.—Acute.         -   Leaflet margin.—Serrate.         -   Leaflet texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             leathery; glossy.         -   Leaflet texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             leathery; somewhat glossy.         -   Leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Leaflet color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to             137A; center, marbled with close to 139D. Developing leaves,             lower surface: Close to 148B slightly overlain with close to             187A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A;             center, marbled with close to 139C to 139D; venation, close             to 139C to 139D. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 147B; venation, close to 147B tinged with 187A.         -   Petioles.—Length, fully expanded leaves: About 15 cm to             20 cm. Diameter, fully expanded leaves: About 4 mm to 7 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146B; densely covered             with spots, close to 187A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower shape and habit.—Single rotate flowers arranged in             loosely branched cymes; freely flowering habit with             typically about 10 to 20 flowers developing per cyme and up             to 40 flowers developing per cyme in the second year of             growth; flowers facing outwardly to somewhat drooping.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about two             months after planting; plants flower from January until             March in The Netherlands.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About three months; flowers             persistent.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 45 cm to 55 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 25 cm to 35 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1 cm to 3 cm. Diameter: About 1             cm to 2 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to NN77A. Flower             diameter: About 6 cm to 8 cm. Flower depth (height): About 1             cm to 3 cm.         -   Petals.—None observed; transformed into nectaries.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 3 cm to 4 cm. Width: About 3.5 cm to             4 cm. Shape: Ovate to obovate. Apex: Obtuse and occasionally             emarginate. Base: Rounded. Margin: Mostly entire and             occasionally emarginate. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening and             fully opened, upper surface: Close to N79B; color does not             change with subsequent development. When opening and fully             opened, lower surface: Close to N77A; color does not change             with subsequent development.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 15 cm to 25 cm. Diameter: About 5             mm to 10 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 146B heavily             covered with spots, close to 187B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 6 cm to 12 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Aspect: About 10° from peduncle axis. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 187A to 187B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About 75.             Filament length: About 2 cm. Filament color: Close to N79D.             Anther shape: Ovate to oblong. Anther length: About 3 mm.             Anther color: Close to 4B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen             color: Close to 4B. Pistils: Quantity per flower: About             five. Pistil length: About 2 cm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped.             Stigma color: Close to 4D. Style length: About 2 cm. Style             color: Close to N79A to N79B. Ovary color: Close to N79A to             N79B.         -   Nectaries.—Quantity per flower: About 10 to 15. Length:             About 5 mm to 8 mm. Width: About 3 mm to 5 mm. Shape:             Funnelform. Color: Close to N144B.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Helleborus. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Helleborus have been observed     to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about —10° C. to about 35° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Helleborus     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Helleborus plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Helleborus plant named ‘ET EPB 1717’ as illustrated and described. 